Reboot

“Mr. Rourke, there’s movement in the Maddow camp, Sir.”

“What kind of movement?” He answered in his walkie-talkie.

“Armored, sir.”

“Ah. It’s time then. Is everyone ready?”

“Yes sir.”

“Ok then.” And Rourke rose from his seat and headed out into the compound where one hundred men were waiting for him.

“Everyone set up in the forest?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good. Let’s go back them up.” And he headed out quietly followed by his group.

His plan had been to wait until Maddow was ready to attack and get him just as he began, on his way out of his own camp. So he had fifty people placed strategically around the camp and along the path that Maddow should logically take. They would flank Maddow on both sides, tie him down until Rourke could get there with his group for another spank on the front.

It worked beautifully.

The men in the woods were entrenched and well protected. They’d been hiding there for a long time. Living in the forest. They rained fire down on the attackers who tried vainly to protect themselves. When Rourke attacked from the front, Maddow’s group quickly gave up. Rourke didn’t lose a single man.

They led the rabble back to Maddow’s camp and once there sat them all in a circle in the training grounds. There were three hundred people or so.

Rourke went up to Maddow and asked him to stand up and face his group. He did so. Then Rourke shot him in the back of the head. There was a gasp, some whimpering.

“SHUT UP! This man was ready to sacrifice all of you for his own personal needs. Do you see this?” Rourke was shouting at the people sitting down. He spoke loudly and very clearly. “He wanted what we have. Why? You didn’t have enough? You couldn’t go and get what you needed? You know you could have. So why? I’ll tell you why. He wanted more. He was a bad leader. That’s what got us into this mess. Men like him who suck at their job.”

There was a general moan.. Rourke took this as positive.

“Who’s second in charge?” He screamed.

There was fear in everyone’s faces. Who would get shot now?

But one man stood up.

“Balls! Good!” Rourke whispered to himself. “Do you all agree to have this man as your leader?” He yelled again.

This time it wasn’t a moan, they cheered wildly. Rourke went up to him and shook his hand.

“I’d rather be your friend, but it’s up to you.” He said so no one else could hear.

The new leader now had respect from his people because of the courage he’d shown, and he owed a debt to Rourke.

One of the wounded told Rourke that Maddow had grown paranoid and decided he had to attack first. He mistook our moving plans for attack plans. But he was badly prepared and a poor strategist. Seventy-six of his people died for nothing.

Rourke Diary

I think this should maybe be it, the last time we have to fight. Time to go now. I sent out patrols to gather information; maybe bring back machinery, tools, parts.. See what’s out there. Waiting for them now. Time to get organized. Should I reach out to other camps? Maybe later. We should at least start talking. It’s been twelve months now since the bombs. Let’s see what the patrols say. I’m hoping to find something not too far away to the south. Boise? Twin Falls? Maybe Eugene.